1990 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate

1990 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate Description:

For sale is my 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate. I purchased the car last fall as a driving project and slowly chipped away at the required work over the winter. The car runs great and presents fantastically however the car has had a respray at some point in its life. I use the car as a weekend driver and for local trips; however, I wouldn't hesitate to take the car on an extended road trip. Since purchasing the car I've put ~280 miles on it. All gauges and electronics in the car work as expected.
While this is an S3 spider it has the engine from the S4 generation which removes some complexity e.g. Bosch Motronic engine control, self bleeding cooling system, idle speed controlled via ECU and idle control valve.
The gearbox works well but does require some minor finesse to prevent grinding. Shifting to second can be accomplished without issue as long as the box isn't hustled e.g. shift out of 1st, wait 1 second, shift into 2nd. When at a stop it's best to kiss 2nd before engaging first. Same for reverse, kiss 4th then engage reverse.
I have many more pictures and driving videos that I can provide upon request. I also have a Carfax report that I can send if desired.All receipts for parts purchased during my ownership are included in the sale.
Work completed in the last year:
Engine:
- Valve adjustment including 4 shim replacements
- Reset timing and retensioned timing chain
- New valve cover gasket and half moons
- New NGK spark plugs
- New throttle position sensor
- New fuel filter and fuel lines before and after filter
- New brake booster hose
- New accessory drive belt
- New ANSA rear muffler
- New center muffler (IMASA, Italy), including new gaskets
- Oil change with Mobil 1 and Mann filter
- Coolant flush
Brakes:
- Cleaned and lubricated all guide pins
- Reground parking brake ratchet to prevent teeth slippage when engaged
- Retensioned parking brake shoes and cable- Brake fluid flush and replacement
Driveline
- New clutch master cylinder and new fluid
- Twice flushed the gearbox with Redline 75W90NS, new crush washers on drain/fill plugs
- New Redline 75W90 oil in differential, new crush washers on drain/fill plugs
- New throttle linkage including D bushing and metal end links
- New trunion to body poly washers
Suspension
- New shocks for all 4 corners, Centerline original replacement fluid filled set. Includes upper and lower bushings
- New lower ball joint passenger side
- New castor arm ball joint passenger side
- New drop links, both sides front
- New outer and inner tie rod, passenger side
- New castor arm bushings, both sides
Body/Interior
- New Stayfast Haartz cloth convertible top (EZ soft top brand)
- New heater valve and gasket
- Sanded and filled dashboard to fill significant cracks. Autobody epoxy used to fill cracks
Given that it's a 28 year old Italian car there are a few issues/mentionables:
- The oil pan gasket seeps near the rear of the pan. Not significant enough to merit oil addition but it does leave a few drops if sitting for an extended period and has left a good undercoating on the gearbox
- The differential's vent valve was plugged which resulted in the differential pressurizing and pushing oil pass the seals. The blockage was removed and the differential appears leak free. A sump gasket was purchased but not installed. This is included in the sale
- The car was optioned with AC from the factory but the belt has been disconnected and the system is inopperable
- When I purchased the car the speedometer and odometer were inoperable for an unknown period of time and as such the mileage reported by the odometer is less than actual. I took apart the cluster, cleaned the contacts and was able to revive operation; however, the speedo reads about 10 MPH slow
- The car spent most of its life in Arizona and as such the body is very clean for a car of this vintage. There is some slight rust starting under the paint on the driver's side rocker, right at the rear edge of the door seam. There is also some rust in the spare tire well, likely from the spare moving around and wearing down the well.
- The LCD clock's display isn't readable